open access

Vol 93, No 11 (2022)
Research paper
Published online: 2022-01-05
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A survey of knowledge, attitudes and awareness of the HPV and HPV vaccine among obstetricians and gynecologists across Poland

Dominika Trojnarska1, Rafal Baran2, Dorota Babczyk2, Robert Jach3
·
Pubmed: 35072233
·
Ginekol Pol 2022;93(11):872-880.
Affiliations
  1. Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
  2. University Hospital in Cracow, Poland
  3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland

open access

Vol 93, No 11 (2022)
ORIGINAL PAPERS Gynecology
Published online: 2022-01-05

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess general knowledge regarding human papillomavirus (HPV)
and the attitude to primary prevention in form of HPV vaccination (HPVv) among Polish obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYNs). In addition, we wanted to study the willingness of physicians to promote the HPVv among patients, based on their general attitude to vaccinations as well as HPV-related knowledge. The gynecologists were also asked to assess their patients’ awareness of HPV infection.

Material and methods: A questionnaire consisting of 25 questions was used to collect the data and with support of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (PTGiP) and the Polish Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (PTKiPSM) sent via their mailing lists to all members and beyond. The total amount of 213 fully filled questionnaires were gathered and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Most of the surveyed OBGYNs showed a good knowledge of HPV and HPVv. They were able to correctly identify the high-risk oncogenic HPV types (hrHPV) and admitted to using HPV genotyping in their daily practice and actively promoting HPVv, being in majority supporters of mandatory vaccinations in general. Almost 90% confirmed the importance of informing patients about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). On the other hand, there was a group of OBGYNs with clearly insufficient knowledge about the HPV and its prevention.

Conclusions: General knowledge of Polish physicians about HPV is good, independent of gender and age. The acceptance of all vaccines is high, but the low availability of the HPV vaccines seems to be the biggest problem stopping patients from getting them.

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess general knowledge regarding human papillomavirus (HPV)
and the attitude to primary prevention in form of HPV vaccination (HPVv) among Polish obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYNs). In addition, we wanted to study the willingness of physicians to promote the HPVv among patients, based on their general attitude to vaccinations as well as HPV-related knowledge. The gynecologists were also asked to assess their patients’ awareness of HPV infection.

Material and methods: A questionnaire consisting of 25 questions was used to collect the data and with support of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (PTGiP) and the Polish Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (PTKiPSM) sent via their mailing lists to all members and beyond. The total amount of 213 fully filled questionnaires were gathered and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Most of the surveyed OBGYNs showed a good knowledge of HPV and HPVv. They were able to correctly identify the high-risk oncogenic HPV types (hrHPV) and admitted to using HPV genotyping in their daily practice and actively promoting HPVv, being in majority supporters of mandatory vaccinations in general. Almost 90% confirmed the importance of informing patients about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). On the other hand, there was a group of OBGYNs with clearly insufficient knowledge about the HPV and its prevention.

Conclusions: General knowledge of Polish physicians about HPV is good, independent of gender and age. The acceptance of all vaccines is high, but the low availability of the HPV vaccines seems to be the biggest problem stopping patients from getting them.

Get Citation

Keywords

HPV; human papillomavirus virus; HPV vaccine; human papillomavirus vaccine

About this article
Title

A survey of knowledge, attitudes and awareness of the HPV and HPV vaccine among obstetricians and gynecologists across Poland

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 93, No 11 (2022)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

872-880

Published online

2022-01-05

Page views

4400

Article views/downloads

667

DOI

10.5603/GP.a2021.0228

Pubmed

35072233

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2022;93(11):872-880.

Keywords

HPV
human papillomavirus virus
HPV vaccine
human papillomavirus vaccine

Authors

Dominika Trojnarska
Rafal Baran
Dorota Babczyk
Robert Jach

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